''Michael Phelps says he's retired. The sport will miss him, he is one of my favorite rivals and I will miss him. But I think he will come back. When you do something for so long every day ... He's still young. I think he will be back for Rio.

''We'll see, he'll miss the sport.''

Phelps insists he's done. He circled London as a retirement date after his historic performance at the 2008 Games and never wavered. When a potential comeback is brought up in interviews, Phelps quickly dismisses the question, even though he seems to know no one really believes him.

I truly believe Phelps when he says he's done. I think he means it when he says he's done for good and that the early mornings in the cold pool and long workouts on dry land are in his rear view. He seems content.

Still, we're only three months past the Olympics. Things can change a lot in three years. Just because Phelps thinks his swimming career is finished right now doesn't mean he won't change his mind in summer 2015.

It's not as if he's going cold turkey from swimming.

"I'm still trying to stay in some kind of shape and stay attached to the water a little bit," he told USA TODAY Sports' Kelly Whiteside last month. "It's been good to be able to get into the water when I want and get out when I want."

He's still a young man. Consider: LeBron James is six months older than the 27-year-old Phelps and we consider LeBron as just entering his prime. Some will say he has nothing more to gain, that a 23rd medal isn't different from a 22nd. Competing in five Olympics and medaling in four is something, isn't it?

I don't think we'll see Phelps again, but it's always wise to never say never. No one knows what lies in store for 2016, not even Michael Phelps.